How to Decorate a Fireplace Mantel or Shelf

Mantles and shelves are often the focal point for a room and they can be kinda tricky to decorate. If you’re not careful, they can end up looking cluttered, unorganized, and not aesthetically pleasing.

Since Spring is right around the corner, I thought it would be the perfect time to freshen up my mantle and I wanted to do it without spending anything.

There are several factors to take into consideration when decorating a mantel. Factors such as size, shape, height, proportion, and color should all be considered.

First, we’ll talk about layering. Layering is important because it creates depth which will make your mantel look aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It will draw your eye up and around your decor instead of stopping.

Layer 1:

Anchor- Choose a large object as your focal point. This can be a mirror, a wreath, a picture, or some kind of other large statement piece. This will be the tallest object in your design.

Photo courtesy of Angela’s Cozy Home

Photo courtesy of Coastal Crafty Momma

Photo courtesy of nestofposies-blog.com

My tobacco basket is one of my favorite things I have and there are so many things that can be done with it. I love the versatility of this piece versus a picture or just a stand alone wreath.

Weight- Now you want to choose two items that are somewhat tall and substantial but do not dwarf your focal piece. These two items will go on either side of your mantel. They do not have to be identical items as long as they are similar in size. If you need to add some height to an object, consider stacking some books first and then setting your object on top of those.

Photo courtesy of The Hardley Cove

Photo courtesy of The Hardley Cove

I actually picked this greenery from the front of my house. I have some pretty ugly bushes in the front of my house, but the branches sure do make a good vase filler! They add great color! You can do the same thing. If you don’t have bushes in your yard, go to a park or the side of a road and collect some greenery you think might look good. The Forsythia and the pear trees are in full bloom right now in Tennessee and would look super pretty on a mantle.

Fillers- Finally, you’ll want to choose some smaller items. These should vary in height and will be placed in front of the focal piece. Photos, figurines, smaller plants, small vases, boxes, quotes, etc. are some ideas.

Photo courtesy of The Hardley Cove

The final touch to my mantle was a numbered plate. I chose the number 17 because it was the day Nathan and I met. I like to throw some personal touches into my decor. After all, although it’s just a rental home, it’s still home to us.

And there you have it! Mantle decor that didn’t cost a thing! Now that’s my kind of fun. 😉